Electric signal apparatus.



UNITED l STATES PATENT oEEioE. y

GEORGE THOMPSON, Or SHELBY, OHIO, ASSIGNOR 'ro THE-AUTOCA'LL COMPANY, OF- SHELBY, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Appiication sied :une z2, 1914, serial No. 846,427. Renewei Juiyzs, 191e. 'serial No.111,9eo.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE THOMPSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Shelby, county'of Richland, State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvenient'in Electric Signal Apparatus,

and declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, such as will enable Others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the Same, reference being had tothe' accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specication.

. embodimentof my invention; Fig. 2 is a.

My invention relates to apparatus for ringing electric bells or sounding alarms at a plurality of distributed pointsand has for its object to produce an apparatus of v'this kind which shall be simple in'construction;A

efficient and reliable in operation and shall possess great exibility so as to make it easy to adjust it to produce any desired variety of signals.

The various features of-noveltyv whereby view partly in top plan and partly in section of the device shown in Fig. 1, on an enlarged scale; Fig. 3 is a section taken .ap-

proximately on line 3 3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4.

is a transverse section on an enlarged scale on line 4-4 of Fig` 2; Fig. 5 is a section through the rotatable contact arm, illustrat-ing the manner in which it is mounted;

-Fig 6 is a side elevation on an enlarged scale onV the inner end of the stopping and starting plug; Fig. 7 is a section on line 7 7 of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 vis a sectional detail illustrating the mounting for-one of the stationary contact pieces; and Fig. 9 is a diagram of connections including four sectional views of the switch board. y

My improved apparatus consists of two main groups of mechanisms, one constituting a contact maker including one or more rotai' table contacts and any desired number .of

stationary contacts, and lthe' other consist- A Patented sept. 19, 1916.

ing of a switch board suitably Aconnectedto the contact devices so that any I desiredvalarmVA or signal may be produced byf/properly'plug'- ging in at the yswitch board.' In/,the arrangement shovwn, the contact making devices and the switch board are mounted in close proximity to each otherA so as to be housed in a single casing; but-it will of course be understood that this proximity of the two mechanisms'or devices to each other is not essential. For the sake of brevity, I

shall describe in/detail, onlythe specific construction illustrated.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents a shaft adapted to be driven by a suitable mo tor of any'kind. In/the arrangement shown, the motor, 2, is of the clockwork type having Onebr morefwinding stems, 3. Mounted upon theshaft soas to be rotatable therewith is a switch arm, 4. Mounted on a suitable supporting base, 5, below and inthe plane of the switch arm iS a metal plate, 6,

having thereon a series of teeth, 7, arranged inthe are of a lcircle having its center at the axis of rotation of the switch arm.' Addistance4 away from the plate` 6. The Vplates being conveniently accomplished bymaking v6 and 3 areinsulated from` each other, this the base member 5 on which they are mouiit-l ed of insulating material. 'lhe'platev 8, is provided with .a vmetal bushing,A 9, projecting laterally therefrom and surrounding the shaft 1. Within the bushingis a sleeve, 10, of insulating material which serves/ to fin,- sulate the shaft from the plate 8`.Y The r0- tary switch arni instead of being mounted directly on the shaft 1, is mountedliipon'the bushing 9 and has in` one side thereof 'an insulated socket, l1, ,i'nto which projects a. pin or finger, 12, fixed to theshaft. lWith this arrangement, the Vswitch arm is insulated from the shaftbut is compelled-fio rotate` positively with it. `The plate' Sis?l ,j with, a'series of stationary contact/"ingers,"` 13,/ which project therefrO/mV into the spaces between the contact teeth inf the plate 6 'so as;to form a sei/'ies of stationary contacts situated in the/same curved line as the teeth.

ofthe plate 6. The members 13 are prefer- "i j plate 3. Thus, as illustrated in Fig. 8, each 'ably'inthe form of pins insulated from the of the pins may have a' reduced screw threaded inner end, 1.4, which passes through a bushing, l5, set into the plate 8 and is provided with a nut, l6, engaging with an insulating washer, 17, to clamp thepin `to the plate and at the same time insulate it there from. By elongating the reduced portion 1l and providing an additional nut, 1S,

means 4are provided for attaching a wire to the pin.

In the arrangement illustrated, the rotary Contact arm is made double ended, each end being provided with a pivoted shoe, 20, normally yieldingly held by a spring, 2l, so

that its Contact point or face is farther re? moved from the axis ot' rotation than the dlstance between this axis and the stationary contacts. Consequently, when the arm is revolved each of the pivoted contact pieces is yieldingly pressed against the stationary contacts, one after the other. In the arrangementshown, the parts are so disposed that the stationary contacts form an arc of a circle somewhat less than 180 degrees so that each of the pivoted contact pieces on the rotating armvwill pass beyond the line of stationary contacts before thel other begins to engage them.v y i lhere the operating shaft is driven by a spring motor, the control of the rotary switch arm is through some means for normally restraining the motor and for releasing it as and when desired In the arrangement shown, the movable a'rm i is provided .with a circular huh, 23, having in the periphery a notch, 24. On the plate 8 is pivoted a dog, 25, having one end lying beneath the hub 23 and, having at its other end a spring, 26, which tends constantly to press the `dog against the periphery of the hub and cause it to drop into the notch 24 when the notch is in the proper angular position.

The 4dog may loe controlled in various ways.

that when the bar is turned so as to bring the upper edge of the dog into thi'sfportion o`f the groove, the dog is depressed so as to free it from lthe notch in the huh on the switch arm; thus releasing the motor and causing it to rotate the switch arm. The groove does not extend entirely around the locking bar so that when the bar is turned into the proper'position it may be withdrawn bodily'. After being withdrawn, it may be slipped baclc in place and interlocled with the dog by reason of beveled end which allows it to ride upon the dog and depress the latter.`

It the controlling bar is simply turned slightly from its normal position in which the locking dog holds the motor against operation and is then turned back again, time i is given the motor in which to start and i thus carry the notch in the hub. onthe switch i arm through a sufficient angleto prevent it from being caught by the dog when the latter rises after having been momentarily' depressed, and consequently the dog simply rides upon the periphery of the hub while Y the latter makes 'a complete revolution. As soon as a complete revolution has been made, however, the dog drops into the notch and arrests the movement of the rotary arm. If,

on the other hand, the bar 28be turned so as to bring the dog into the portion 32' of the groove, and is left in this position, the dog will be positively held away from the periphery ofthe huh on the switch arm and therefore the `"motor will continue to4 operate and this arm to rotate until the controlling bar is again. shifted. In-short, by a simple manipulation of the controlling bar the motor may be caused to operate and to contionaryontact fingers 13 and the contact plate 6 are insulated from the plate S. Consequently by connecting the plate 8 to one lside of a line containing a suitable source of electrical energy and a signaling device, and connecting the stationary fingers and the plate 6 to the other side of the line, it will he sce-n that the gap between the two sides of the line will be bridged whenever one of the pivoted contact pieces on the rotary arm engages with either a tooth on the plate 6 or with oneof the stationary contact fingers. Furthermore, by leading the connections from the stationary contact fingers and vfrom the plate 6 through a suit--` able switch board, any desired variety of signals may be given. A y

In the arrangement illustrated, the plate 6 is utilized for the purpose of giving what may be termed a general signal or alarm,

ics.

such as a. dismissal. signalto notify the einployees in :shop or factory that'twork is to cease, or for any other desired purpose; Awhile the stationaryv contact fingers are adapted to give the special signals. I have therefore run a single connection from they plate 6 and connections Htrom each of the stationary contact lingers toa suitable switch board which may,l be locatedat any desired point lout which, in the arrangement illusdriven switch apparatus, heretofore described.V

In the lparticular embodiment illustrated, the switch board is set into the main casing and its front wall, 35, forms a portion othe front wall of the casing. A wire, 36, leading from the plate 6 is connected to thesmall contact plate or clip, 37, arranged onl the rear side of the wall 35 in proximity to a plugreceiving hole, 38, in this wall.

39 isa suitable plug adapted to be inserted in the hole 38 and make electrical contact with the plate or clip 37; the plug being attached to a cable, 40, Vwhich constitutes one2 side of the line while a wire or cable, 41, alt- Vtached to the plate 8 forms the other sideof the une.

It will be seen that if the plug is inserted in the hole 38 and the motor is set in opera tion, assuming that the wires or cables 40 and 41 are connected in a circuit containing a bell or other signal and a battery: The circuitithrough the bell or other signal will be completed vwhenever one of the pivoted contact pieces 20 engages with one of the teeth on the plate 6; this circuit being from the wire 41, through the .plate 8, through the rotary contact arm, through the plate G, through the wire 36 and clip 37 and thence t the plug 39 and cable 40.

The connections between the stationary contact iingers and the switch board are such that a great variety of signals may be given.

Thus if the signal is a bell, the bell may be caused to ring so as to sound any desired number of a series which represent different persons or things. v

illustrated in Figs. 4 and 9. From Fig. 1 it will be seen that the frontA plate 35 of the switch board is provided with two rows of' holes, 50 and 51, into any one of which holes `the plug 3) may be inserted. In a. suitablebox or casing, 52, of which the wall 35 formsA 4the front cover, are arranged a series ot long contact plates, lettered in the drawings a to p inclusive. The contact plates are at least as long as eachA of the rows of holes, 50 and 51, and they are arranged in groups of four, there being four plates above each row of holes and four plates below each row of holes. The plates of veach group' are vspaced apart by strips ot` insulating material, The end pieces, 54, of the..box or casing are made of insulating material s and have ledges or ribs, 5o, projecting in-. wardly betweenthe upper row of contact vertical depth greater than thel verticali partments in common witheach other, theseA vcompartments being also of such vertical depth that the plates are free to move up and down. Above each plate'in the upper row is a light spring, 56; below each plate in the lowermost row is a similar spring, 57, and between the corresponding plates in the intermediate' rows are springs, 58; all the springs acting to press the two upper rows toward each. other and to press the two lower rows toward each other. The edges of the. plates in proximity to the plug-ie ceiving openings are notched a.ccoif".. gl to any desired scheme, so that whenever the plug is inserted into one of the holes it will engage with any desired number'ot the adjacent eight'contact plates and be out of engagement withthe remainder; the springs actingvto press those plates with which the plug engages yieldingly against the plug and thus secure a good velectrical connection. l In the arrangement illustrated, one-half of the stationary Contact lingers 13 are connected to the lupper and lower rows of con tact plates, each finger being connected to one of the plates in the upper row and to the corresponding plate in the lowermost row. The other half of the contact lingers, alter occupying the same [chamber or compart-V The details of the switch board are bestl and, since the connections can readily be followed on Fig. 9 I shall not describe them in detail except to ti'ace a single circuit.

depth or width of the plate so as to allow `nating with -those connected to the upper and lower rows, are connected to the inter-` Assuming that the wire 41 forms-one end of a circuit containing a source of electrical energy, 61', and a signal, 62, and that the cable 40 and'plug 39 form the other terminal of this circuit, assuming the switch 1 plug 'to be placed in the right hand hole in the upper row of the switch board, looking at Fig. -9', and further assuming that the l motor is running and is turning the switch arm 4: It will be seen thatnvhen the pivoted contact piece 2O on` the rotating, arm engageswith the first or upper of the fingers 13, current will vflow from the source of electrical energy through the rotary switch y Y arm, the stationary contact finger, through thel plate a in the switch board, through the plug 39 and back through the signal to the. source of electrical energy so that the signal 'will' be sounded. The second contactnger from the top is connected to the Contact ',Qplate e just below the plate a, and theifplatev -Vi/sprovidediwith a notch which preventsgi'tgt Vcontacts with the eighth finger.

from making electrical contact with the switch plug when the plug loccupies the position specified. The plates and f lie just behind the plates a, and e and these are notched so that although connected to the third and fourth fingers ot the set 13, the circuit will not be completed when the rotary arm reaches them. The plates c and, g lie just behindvthe pla-tes 5 and ,t and they are also notched so that although they are connected to the iiitth and sixth fingers, the circuit will not be completed when the rotary switch` member engages with these fingers. The plates d and L lie just behind the plates c and g, these plates being connected to the seventh and eighth lingers.

n The plate (l is notched, so that when the rotary switch arm engages the seventh inger the circuit remains interrupted by the switch board, The plate 71, is not notched in proximity to the first hole so that it engages with the switch plug and causes thecircuit to be completed when the rotary switch arm Conse quently the circuit will be completed twice by each end oit the rotary switch army during each complete revolution. A considerable interval 'elapses between successive closures of the circuit, so that if the signal is a bell the effect will be of a single ring four times during each revolution or, iu other words, number 1 will be called four times during each revolution. In the same ny, if the plug be inserted in the second hole from the right in the uppermost row in the switch board it will be seen that the bell will be sounded whenever the rotary switch mf nber contacts with either of the first two lingers in thc stationary set or with either of the last two fingers. In other words, there will be two rings in quick succession, then a long interval., and then two more rings in quick succession. In the saine way any number from threeto eight may be called by using; the third to eighth `holes of the upper row in the switch board. The remainder of the holes serve to produce sig--4 nals corresponding to numbers of two or three digits.

It will thusbe seen that l have produced a simple and compact controlling apparatus for an electric circuit by means of'which a great variety of signals may be given or alarms sounded at any desired number of remote points, the signals or alarms being repeated a definite number ci times and then ceasing or being repeated indefinitely until stopped by the operator.

While I have illustrated and with particularity only a. single preferred form of my invention, l do not desire to be limited to the exact structural details thus iliustiatcd and described; but 'intend to cover all forms and varrangements which come within the terms employed in the defin described' nitions of my invention constituting the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In av device of the character described, a plate, a revoluble switch arm mounted on said plate, a series of separated contacts arranged on said-plate in an` are of a circle having its center at the axis of rotation of said arm, a motor for rotating said arm, a conductor, means for selectively connecting said contacts in various groups tosaid conductor, said arin having a contact `piece lying at one side of the plane alt the aforesaid plate, said contacts projecting laterally from the plate into said plane, and a metal plate lying in said plane and having teeth projecting into the spaces between the afore-4 said contacts but `out of' engagement therewith.

2.Y ln ac'device of the character described, a plate, a revoluble switch arm. mounted on said plate, a series of separated insulated contacts arranged on said plate in. an arc of; a circle having its center at the axis of rotation ot' said arm, a motor for rotating said arin, a conductor, means for selectively connecting said contacts in various groups to said conductor, a second series of electrically connected contacts arranged in said are and alternating with the aforesaid contacts, and a piece on said switch arm for engaging with said contacts as the arm is rotated.

8. In a device of the character described,

-a plate,- a series of insulated contact posts projecting laterally from. one side of the plate and arranged in an arc of a circle, a switch arm mounted. on said plate so4 as to be revoluble about the center of lsaid circle, a contactV finger pivoted on said arm so as to be movable about an aXis parallel with the axis of rotation of the arm and located in position to .engage succes-- sively with the sides of' said posts as the arm is rotated, means for rotating said arm, a conductor, and' means for selectively' connecting said posts in various groups to said conductor.

4C. ln a. device of the character described, a casing, a switchboard arranged"in the front wall of the casing, `a supporting plate within the casing, a series of insulated con-- tacts .arranged on said plate in the arc of a circle, a switch arm revolubleY about an axis passing through the center of said circle and adapted to' engage with said contacts one after the other as itfrevolv'es, a motor in said casing foractuating said arm, and Con nections between said contacts and said switchboard v 5. In a device of the character described, a plate, a series of insulated contact pons projecting laterally fronione side of the "plate and arranged in the arc of a circle, a

lOO

lout out of engagement with said contacts, and a revolubleswitoh arm having its axisl of rotation passing through the center of the aforesaid circle and having a part adapted to engage with said contacts and said teeth as the arm is rotated.

G. ln a device of the character described, a metal plate, a series ofposts projecting laterally from one side of the plate in the aro of a circle, insulation between each of said `posts and the plate, a second metal plate arranged parallel with the aforesaid plate and having teeth projeoting between said posts and lying in the aforesaid are',

and a revoluble switch arm adapted to engage with said posts and said teeth suocessiyely.-

ln testimony whereof, I sign this speci-4 fication in the presence of two Witnesses. 

